Cole graduated from Kentridge High School in Kent, Washington and attended Pacific Lutheran University from 1993 to 1997, where she competed in four years of collegiate women's soccer. A goalkeeper in her playing days, Cole held the school records for most saves in both a season and career as of 2012. She graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and a minor in Coaching.
Coaching career
International
Cole has served in multiple international coaching roles. In 2018, she assisted the US Soccer U17 Women's National team during their August trip to South Korea in preparation for the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup. From 2015 to 2017, Cole most notably served as the Head Coach of the Papua New Guinea U20 Women's National Team in their run up to and during the 2016 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup. Papua New Guinea did not have a national team program prior to her being hired for the position and the team drew Sweden, Brazil, and North Korea in World Cup Group A. While finishing 0–3 in Group A, the team scored their only goal of the tournament against eventual champion North Korea. In August 2019, she was hired as the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association's Director of Women's Football and Senior Women's National Team head coach.
Professional
Cole coached in both the Women's Professional Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League women's professional leagues as an assistant and head coach. From 2008 to 2010, she served as the First Assistant for the Boston Breakers under Head Coach, Tony DiCicco. She took over as Head Coach of the club prior to the collapse of WPS in 2012. In the interim years between WPS and NWSL, the Boston Breakers joined the Women's Premier Soccer League Elite and Cole coached the team to a first place regular season title with an 11–3–0 record and the best season in franchise history. Cole was instrumental in the establishment of the NWSL and served as Head Coach for the Breakers in 2013 when they finished fifth during the regular season. After returning from international duties in Papua New Guinea in 2017, Cole joined the Houston Dash as an Assistant Coach to Vera Pauw. In June 2018, Cole then moved to the Washington Spirit under her current position as the professional team scout.
Semi-Professional
Prior to the establishment of WPS, Cole served as First Assistant for the SoccerPlus CT Reds in the Women's Premier Soccer League under Tony DiCicco. The Reds won the U23 National Championship in 2007 and in 2008 were the East-North Division Regular Season Champions.
Cole has extensive youth coaching experience. In addition to her current role with the Washington Spirit Girls DA Program, Cole is the Technical Director for , a non-profit community soccer organization in State College, PA. She has been a member of the Region I Olympic Development Program staff since 2002, and has served as a member of both the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association and Rhode Island Youth Soccer Association Coaching Education Staff. Throughout her career she has worked with the Washington, Mississippi, Rhode Island and Connecticut state ODP programs and has served as a coach on multiple ODP Foreign Tour including those to Germany, Brazil, and England. In 2006, Cole also spent time volunteering in Brazil with Cross-Cultural Solutions working in orphanages and teaching soccer in schools. talking pre-game with Head Coach Lisa Cole in 2012
Sports Administration
Cole was the Director for the SoccerPlus Education Center from 2006–2008, a non-profit organization that provides and participates in educational programs, seminars, community outreach events and individual mentoring on and off the soccer field. She has been a member of United Soccer Coaches for over 20 years and is very active within the organization. She has served on the Board of Directors, as chair of the , and as the Advocacy Council Chair. She is also a member of the United Soccer Coaches Coaching Academy and primarily instructs advanced goalkeeping courses.
